“What?”
She spoke the word out loud because she needed to hear the sound of it. What would they be? Lovers? Friends with benefits? What exactly did Mason want from her? No—that was the wrong question. She’d been so damned worried about giving up her dreams for a man, and here she was thinking about what he wanted? No! What about her? What did she want for herself?
The question propelled her to her feet. She circled the pool and the waterfall, went through the gazebo, then back to the patio, her mind spinning in all directions.
What did she want for herself? What was important to her? What would make her happy and fulfilled?
“I want to go through the house in Santa Barbara and enjoy the memories of Leo and Lillian. I want to find treasures and learn about sheet music and clocks. I want to sell pieces to museums and give others away, and I want to open a wonderful eclectic antique store.”
She made another lap of the property.
“I want to travel.”
Cord had never wanted to go on trips with her. He preferred being on one of his boats. She wanted to see New Zealand and those cats at that Japanese temple and do a river cruise through Europe.
There was so much more. She wanted a home that she loved. Something nice, but not ostentatious. She wanted flowers in the garden and a big kitchen with a six-burner stove so when friends and family came, she could cook whatever she wanted. It would have to be cat-friendly and open, with a large patio.
“I want grandchildren,” she said, then smiled. Her kids were probably going to have a say in that one.
“I want to be happy, and I want to be loved.”
She stopped by the waterfall, the spray hitting her arm. There it was—the most difficult one of all. She wanted love in her life. Strong, steady love, the love of a man who would always be there, no matter what.
Are you in love with me?
Mason had bluntly asked the question, because that was who he was. The man who would always ask the necessary question. She’d been so startled, so overwhelmed by emotion and the shock of Jase’s proposal, she hadn’t said yes. She hadn’t known she wanted to say yes. And then he’d let her go.
“He let me go because he thought it was what I wanted.”
He’d let her go because he’d thought it was what was best for her. He’d let her go because he loved her.
“Mom?”
She turned and saw Harlow stepping onto the deck. Her daughter wore a bathrobe and a sleepy expression.
“It’s really early,” Harlow said, stretching. “What time did you get up?”
“Six.”
“That’s like three in the morning according to your body clock. Are you okay?”
Robyn smiled. “Yes, I am. Do you think Mason’s in love with me?”
Harlow hesitated. “Why do you ask?”
The question was an odd response. “Is he?”
“Yes, but don’t tell him I said that.”
Robyn nearly fainted. “He told you he loved me?”
“Kind of, but then you guys had a fight or whatever it was. You wouldn’t say.” Her daughter tightened her robe. “Mom, Mason’s a really great guy. I know he’s different from Dad and Jase, but he’s strong, and he’d never hurt you.”
Hope fluttered in her chest. Mason loved her? He’d been talking about his feelings?
Her first instinct was to rush inside and book a flight back to California. She could—
No, she told herself. She was going to think things through. She was going to make sure she knew her mind and her heart before she did anything. Besides, there were logistics to be worked out. When she went back, she wanted to be ready to stay there permanently. No running back and forth.
“Your dad’s going to bring Zafina to the house later today,” Robyn said, walking toward her daughter. “He’s thinking of buying the house from me.”
Harlow’s mouth dropped open. “Seriously? But isn’t that weird? Are you okay with that?”
“It was my idea. This is much more his house than mine, and she’s pregnant.”
“Let’s not talk about the baby,” Harlow said, following her inside. “I’m still getting past the gross-factor of that piece of news.”
“She could be your stepmother,” Robyn said lightly.
“Yeah, that’s more of a problem. I just hope Kip finds someone before there’s a wedding.”
“If not, I’ll be your plus-one.”
They walked into the kitchen. Harlow poured herself coffee.
“You’d do that for me?”
“Of course. You’re my favorite daughter, and I love you. I was thinking of making pancakes.”
“With bacon?”
Robyn smiled. “Yes, with bacon. Go wake your brother, and I’ll get started on breakfast.”
Harlow picked up her coffee. “What about Mason? Or are you going to tell me it’s none of my business?”
“I’m going to tell you that I’m in love with him, but I need to think a few things through before he and I have that conversation.”
As she said the words, she fought against fear he would be done with her by the time she got back. No, she told herself. That wasn’t a concern. If he got over her so quickly, then his love wasn’t real. She was talking weeks, not months. Besides, she had to do what was right for herself. She had to be willing to be strong. Loving Mason was one thing, but loving herself mattered, too.
“You have it all together,” Harlow said with a sigh. “When I grow up, I want to be just like you.”
“I appreciate the compliment, but try being your own person. That generally works out better.”
A new lesson, hard-earned but powerful. Lillian would be so proud.
* * *
“It’s nice,” Enid said, looking around at the apartment. “But it’s kind of small.”
Harlow grinned. “How can you say that? It’s nearly seven hundred square feet.”
“Can you live here?”
Harlow thought about how expensive rent was in the Keys and that this place would cost nearly half her take-home pay. But the job was exactly what she wanted, and she was hoping to keep the rest of her expenses low. And be so dazzling that her passengers would tip her generously.
“I’ll do great,” she promised her friend.
Enid’s expression remained doubtful, but Harlow wasn’t concerned. She was going to be just fine on her own.
As promised, her brother had helped her load the truck she’d rented to bring her things down from Naples. One of his friends had tagged along to help with the heavy stuff. Between the three of them, they’d had her things unloaded in a couple of hours.
Austin and his friend had left to return the rental truck, and her mom had shown up to help her unpack. Robyn had treated all of them to a night at a hotel—probably the last luxury Harlow would see for a while, so she’d enjoyed her lovely water view and roomy shower. She’d spent the last couple of days settling in. Enid was joining her for the weekend, before heading off to medical school.
“Come on,” Harlow said, grabbing her bag. “I found a great little place around the corner. The cocktails are amazing, and the food is cheap.”
Enid grinned. “I love cheap food.”